explain any four policies implemented by colonials that affected the life of pastoralists in india
Answers
(i) The grazing grounds available for their herds: Shrank.
Example:
As per waste land rules grazing lands were converted into cultivable land to produce commercial crops like jute, cotton, wheat in demand in the European market.
(ii) The shepherds and cattle herders could no longer pasture their cattle freely in forests.
Example:
As per various Forest Acts forests were classified as reserved, protected and village forests.
(iii) Though in some (e.g., protected forests) customary grazing rights were granted, movements of pastoralists was severely restricted by permits.
(iv) Since the colonial government was suspicious of nomadic people and wanted to rule over settled population many pastoralists and trading communities by the Criminal Tribes Act (1871) were classified as Criminal tribes. They were expected to live in notified village settlements, not allowed to move without permit and kept under constant vigil. Thus movements became highly restricted and regulated by permit.
(v) The revenue they had to pay increased e.g., grazing tax, tax on trade on goods.
(vi) Their animal stock declined due to shortage of forage for animals. Underfed cattle died in large numbers due to scarcities and famines.
(vii) Their trade and crafts were adversely affected due to restrictions on mobility.
(viii) Many because of loss of livestock, poverty, restrictions on mobility changed their way of life and became agricultural labourers, workers in small towns etc.
(i) Waste Land rules: All grazing lands were considered 'waste land' by the colonial rulers as they brought no revenue to them. If this land could be transformed into cultivated farmland, it would result in an increase in land revenue and production of crops such as jute, cotton and wheat. This is why the Waste Land rules were formulated. However, they sounded the death knell for pastoralists because an increase in cultivated land meant an obvious decline in pastures and a consequent loss of a means of livelihood for them.
(ii) Forests Acts:These were enacted to protect and preserve forests for timber which was of
commercial importance. These acts changed the life of pastoralists. They were now prevented from entering many forests that had earlier provided valuable forage for their cattle. They issued permits which monitored their entry and exit into forests. They could not stay in the forests as much as they liked because the permit specified the number of days and hours they could spend in the forests.
(iii) Criminal Tribes Act: The British government eyed nomadic people with suspicion and disregard on account of their continuous movement. They could not be tracked down or placed in one particular place, unlike rural people in villages who were easy to identify and control. Hence, the colonial power viewed nomadic tribes as criminal. The Criminal Tribes Act was passed in 1871 and it further ruined the lives of the pastoralists who were now forced to live in notified settlements and were disallowed from moving out without a government permit.
(iv) Grazing Tax: It was imposed by the colonial government to expand its revenue income. Pastoralists had to pay a tax on every animal they grazed on the pastures. This right was now auctioned out to contractors. They extracted as high a tax as they could, to recover the money they had paid to the state and earn as much profit as they could. Later the government itself started collecting taxes. This created problems for the pastoralists who were harassed by tax collectors. It also became an economic burden on them.